The Flywheel

Meeting of September 21Note:
We're meeting at LA STRADA Restaurant, San Pablo.(Directions)

California Initiative to End the Death Penalty

Steve Fajardo, retired Lieutenant of Police with the
Oakland Unified School District, will discuss why he
is voting Yes on Proposition 34, an initiative on the
November ballot to replace the death penalty with life
in prison without the possibility of parole.

Learn more about Proposition 34, and all the ballot
measures, at Ballotpedia.
The goal of Ballotpedia is "to cultivate a strong
democracy(...) by building up a comprehensive almanac
of information about elections, politicians and candidates
at all levels of government. Voters have different values.
We want all voters to have the information they need
about candidates and ballot measures to cast a vote in
accord with their values." -From the Ballotpedia
website.

Meeting of Friday, September
14

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

President Jim Young repeated his “R” word
opening. Then recognized that due to the special nature
of the meeting room and the fact that there was no voice
amplification. He said more, but I couldn’t hear.
It was a little ironic that our noisy room was
known as “The Library”.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Joe Bagley,
and the invocation given by George Egan. Sid
Chauvin offered this comforting thought: “Worry
is like a rocking chair…it will keep you busy
but you don’t get anywhere” Rock on Sid!

Rotarians with Guests

Jonathan Lawlis his lady friend Darlene,
who by now needs no introduction. Felix Hunziker introduced
his lovely wife Audrey.

Sunshine Report

Raphael Madrigal had a brief in and
out hospital visit. He’s now back to work. Glad
you’re better!

Announcements

We
were saddened to learn that Don Hardison,
the most senior member of the Richmond Rotary,
passed away on
Monday, September 17th.

Jan wrote: “Dad
passed away peacefully at home with family by his side
this morning. Thank you for the notes of care.
He heard them all.”

Information about a public memorial service for Don
will be communicated to Rotary members by email when
details are available.

Jim praised the success of the Solano Stroll. He
thanked the 15 members that attended. 500 cards containing
our Polio message and our email address were handed
out. The Rotaractors (Rotary for 20 somethings, young
adults between Rotary and Interact) had a great little
project assembling “water testers’

Jim thanked yours truly, Alan Blavins, for graciously
(his word) accepting the role of Flywheel Scribe coordinator. David
Keystone is happy (David’s word) to
take care of December. Lynn Martin said
I can sign her up for January 2013. All we need now
is someone for this week, October and November. I thank
all members, including currently enrolled scribes,
for your consideration of this service opportunity.
Jim then listed fall events, including the EC Rotary
Wine Tasting fund raiser on October 21st. 2.30-5.30
at MVCC.

Jim also reminded everyone to follow the link (box
on the right) to the District Conference in Napa. November
2nd-4th. Very the notable speakers.

East Bay Rotaract is having a fund raiser lunch at
Marica Restaurant, 5301 Collage Ave., Oakland, Saturday & Sunday.
Septembar 29th-30th. Their goal is to raise $1000 for
the Blue Girls Academy in Debre Markos, Ethiopia. The
academy is a school for teenage girls who were orphaned
as a result of HIV/AIDS.

The San Pablo Rotary will host Raginí Cajun Crawfish,
Music & Fun Fest. Saturday Sep.22nd at SP City Hall.
$28.00 per person.

Pam Brown told us of BARSHEEP Foundation
Day celebration with ďA Day-at-the-RacesĒ Saturday
November 17th. Lunch at The Turf Club. The District
Governor will be present. She then illustrated how
to get there by giving David Brown a check for $35.00.
See itís that simple.

Recognitions

Jim and Linda Young celebrated their 42nd anniversary.
Unfortunately, due to the less than perfect acoustics
of the room (and less than perfect hearing of the scribe),
other Recognitions were not recorded.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Michelle Itagaki had Happy Dollars
was thrilled to see her grandchild stand and take first
steps.

Jon Lawlis had Happy Dollars for Sid Chauvin secret
stash of Manhattans at the stroll.Jan Brown and Alan Blavins added $100 to the Youngstrom
collection.

Josh Genser offered Happy Dollars
for Point Richmond music festival.

Rafael Madrigal had Happy Dollars
for getting out of hospital, where the food “sucked!”

Norm's Nonsense

When Dan's house burned down, his first phone call was
to the guy who'd sold him his homeowner's policy. "I
need a check for the cash value of my house, and I need
it as soon as possible," he said firmly.

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way," explained
the insurance agent politely. "See, yours was a
replacement policy, which means that we'll be rebuilding
the house exactly as it was before."

"I see," said Dan, after a long pause. "In
that case, I want to cancel the policy on my wife."

PROGRAM

Candy Pierce update on the campaign to eradicate polio
worldwide

Jim Young introduced Past District Governor & Ace
Rotarian, Candy
Pierce. Candy udated us on the status of
Polio Plus and its eradication. She was hindered by the
fact that the restaurant could not project her PowerPoint
presentation, “A
Foundation for the Future". Being the resourcesful sort,
Candy soldiered on and managed fine without the tech.

Candy started by reviewing the growth of the
Foundation. And what growth!

In 1988 polio cases covered three quarters of the world.
Today there are 131 cases in three countries.
You can remember the countries with the acronym, NAP:
Nigeria has 84. Afghanistan17. Pakistan 30. Rotary has
a PR and outreach poster program.
Candy showed a poster on her laptop screen by walking
it around. The poster show a man in a t-shirt with the
slogan “END POLIO NOW” and holding up his
hand with thumb and forefinger just a little apart to
illustrate “We are that close”. But Candy
also had an image in which she’d Photoshopped
in Jim Young’s head. This caused much merriment.
Candy pointed out that every contribution helps.

You can make a benefactor pledge, effective upon your
death, of $1,000-$9,999 to Rotary. She held up her hands
to show that only her pinkie fingernails were painted
purple. People ask why? It’s a talking point When
children have been treated for polio, their pinkie finger
is painted purple. This was her way spread the word about:

The Rotary International Foundation is your Foundation

The Foundation addresses the greatest needs

The Foundation’s world reach is greater than that
of the United Nations

The RI Foundation can go where politicians and religious
groups cannot.

Candy pointed out that by creating Annual Programs fund
there is support for today, and with a permanent fund
there is support for tomorrow.

Because Polio Plus incorporates both, it is a true foundation
for the future.

-Alan Blavins, Apprentice Scribe

Upcoming Programs

September 28
Linda Schneider, of the non-profit Self Sustaining
Communities, discusses the 'greening process' that
has become significant in Alameda and Contra Costa
counties: community gardens and urban farms as centerpieces
of sustainable neighborhoods.

October 5
DG Laura Day returns to Richmond Rotary to
give us her view of the Rotary World and to show us
how to tie a Toga for the upcoming District Conference
in Napa Nov. 2nd to 4th.

October 12
The President and board will present the
2012-13 operating budget, discuss current Committee
membership and activitiesand projects, projects. This
is an "all hands" meeting so please arrange your schedule
to participate.

Have a suggestion for a speaker?
Please pass along the name and contact information
to Jim Young, Tom Waller, or Liliane Koziol.

The
concept of peace is one that differs among people and
cultures (...) personal tranquility, happiness
in the family, a sense of inner contentment ó or
it may mean a situation of safety where basic human needs
are met. However we define peace, it is a goal that can
be achieved through service.